Dying Mall. Danville Mall - Danville, Virginia

[@russiagoeshard]

In the 90's that mall had a GIANT water spout under that dome. It was great. Lived in danville my whole life and i might go to the mall once a year. Most of the mall is empty space.

[@DyingRetail]

It’s sad. I found out video and photos before Hull took it over. It looked cool. Especially the fountain.

[@tacticaldude35]

Glad to see a video about the Danville mall

[@DyingRetail]

Glad you enjoyed. I enjoyed the trip to film.

[@RayGates-r9x]

As someone who visits Danville often, I can honestly say that I rarely visit Danville Mall. They only have one store that is worth visiting in my opinion and that would be Hot Topic. Glad to have learned some history about the mall, just such a shame no one seems to be able to manage it into a prosperous business.

[@DyingRetail]

Can’t blame you. There’s not much that’s worth going in for it seems.

[@igayparisjr]

Moved up here about two years ago and only visited this place like three times.. it’s really depressing. I heard about the shootings and Defn didn’t help lol

[@DyingRetail]

@@igayparisjr doesn’t help that it looks like a Museum also :)

[@UniCommProductions]

You've really outdone yourself on this one. Great intro, great thumbnail and your music choices are on point.

[@DyingRetail]

I tried :)

[@UniCommProductions]

YOU SUCCEEDED! @@DyingRetail

[@DyingRetail]

❤️ 💕 💗 thanks :)

[@silverhawk_25]

Living in Danville, I remember when this mall had JCPenny and Sears. The mall used to be a great spot when those stores were around. When both of those stores left, only ones left to shop at were Belk and now Dunham's Sports. Champs Sports was a store I loved going to, same with foot locker, now that both those stores are gone, there's only Finish Line, Hot Topic, Hibbett Sports, American Eagle, Rue21, Spencer's, Cato Fashions, and Aeropastle as the remaining clothing and shoe stores. The food court used to have a Japanese restaurant named Kasai Japan and pizza place called Ruffino's. Both of those places hit the road and now we're left with a Chinese place and a cookie store. I did get a cool hat from City Cap "formally Lids", but aside from that, the mall isn't really worth going to anymore. The parking lot is fucking terrible, you can barely see the lines to where you need to park at. This mall would be a great location to film a post apocalyptic movie though 😂. Appreciate you visiting and yeah, the carpet is something I really don't understand either. Thanks again man

[@DyingRetail]

The mall has good bones. If only an owner that wanted to see it thrive. There’s not another mall around for miles. With right mix of stores it should be doing better. Seems these owners only care for tax right offs, not if the properties are doing well.

[@ljones98391]

@@DyingRetail Not an expert on malls but even in thriving areas of the west coast they saw the demise of Sears, Penny's, Sports Locker and many more stores that you named plus restaurants. I have to believe COVID lockdowns finished off many that were managing to hang on. Tragic that quantity and quality of shopping is gone, not just in lovely Danville.

[@DyingRetail]

@@ljones98391 agreed. The malls depended on the big box anchors being healthy and drawing in customers. They started to fall then rents are increased even more on the smaller shops and started a domino effect.

[@vickylin4537]

So sad to see Danville Mall like this! It once was a great mall when our children growing up in Danville and a happy place for them to visit!

[@DyingRetail]

I totally agree! It had more character too.

[@CoolCatProductions-365]

Great video man! Hull is the absolute worst at renovating malls. Such a tragic remodel.

[@DyingRetail]

Just a cookie cutter mentality

[@david0321able]

Would visit this mall when I came home for visits back in the late 80's and early 90's. Sad to see this.

[@DyingRetail]

Agreed. When they drywall entrances to stores it usually means they have no intentions of trying to get more business in. For them it’s easy. They just collect tax write offs.

[@RayOutThere]

This place looks dreadful! I don't know how this is supposed to feel inviting. I think people need to spend time in beautiful spaces, I honestly think it's good for you. Great video though 👍

[@DyingRetail]

Outside always good except on rainy days. LOL!

[@charlieerardi4221]

Wilson Mall was owned by Hull before it closed in 2013. It looked just like this. Cleveland Mall in Shelby, NC looks just like this too

[@DyingRetail]

It appears they have a template they use no matter where the mall is.

[@mizFahrenheit]

Keith, if you're traveling out, you should come to Nashville and go to Rivergate Mall, it's on its last leg. I wish you had been doing this before Hickory Hollow mall got torn down that would have been a great one for your series I think

[@DyingRetail]

It’s going to be sometime before I can take a longer trip with taking care of mother.

[@tacticaldude35]

All of hall property groups malls loook exactly like this, with the old pictures of the city on the wall, look at photos of the fort Henry mall in Kingsport TN, it looks the same.

[@DyingRetail]

Unfortunately. They are horrible.

[@Desslok20]

I LOVE your description of the carpet color

[@DyingRetail]

LOL! It Just reminded me of vomit. Lol

[@patriciapatrick2279]

That Mall is giving me Pembroke Mall VIBES. Maybe 🤔 it's that Bath and Body Works storefront? And the layout has got THOSE feels. 😳 Awesome 😎 🎥.

[@DyingRetail]

Glad you enjoyed Patricia :)

[@JeremysRetailExploration]

I have been to only one Hull property, the Richmond Mall in Richmond, IN. Richmond Mall looks exactly the same as this, same lights, carpet, and historical drywall. I have noticed now that Hull makes their malls sound even more bland by changing the name to just the Danville Mall. The Richmond Mall used to be called Richmond Square Mall however since Hull's ownership the name has changed to a simpler name. Great job on this video!

[@DyingRetail]

Thanks Jeremy. I tried. :) yes it seems all Hull malls follow the same formula. I’ve seen other videos and exact same crap LOL!

[@jodymazzarese5151]

All I kept thinking about were the benches or seating areas, not many of them there. Hopefully the casino will help to bring more traffic.

[@DyingRetail]

The city is looking at converting the mall into a lifestyle center concept and adding housing. So we will have to wait and see what happens.

[@RobertLinthicum]

Even if the economy could support healthy retail, anything nice in Danville is quickly destroyed. Interesting local culture.

[@DyingRetail]

Sad. It seems like a nice area.

[@JDubKillinKicks]

It feels like a hotel but at least its well lit. I like the no kiosk idea that's interesting. Seems like its a huge mall/museum lol.

[@DyingRetail]

My thoughts exactly. It’s the hallway.

[@rosalyn604]

We was there when they had it's first grand-opening I think it went down hill, when they got rid of Hills and the game room for kids. The only thing I love about it now is Rue 21. Because we use to meet our friends near the Game room or Hills.

[@DyingRetail]

I miss the old arcades. They were a lot of fun.

[@tjsogmc]

It's pretty bleak looking. But all modern malls (and most retail in general) have squeezed out any vestige of color or decor from every last brick of the building. It's all coffee shop earth tones with no colored lights or artwork. The "shopping experience" is completely gone.

[@DyingRetail]

It’s sad. It’s like buildings in general today. Seems they go for function only.

[@tjsogmc]

@@DyingRetail fyi: there's 5 eateries now at Greenbriar mall: Charlie's, Sakura, Festiva Foods, and China Wok, plus the little Bodega selling hot dogs..

[@DyingRetail]

OMG!

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

Everyone has their opinion on any of these malls we go out and film, so I definitely respect your view. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of group think “pile on”, one after another against Hull. I would gladly take a Hull mall with carpet, bland colors and historical pics on the walls versus most of the dead malls we see in our country now. The local examples here in SC I will use are Prince of Orange and Sumter. If it wasn’t for Hull, these malls would most likely be like the scary, dark and sketchy Dutch Square Mall. Also, I am curious what retailers Hull likes to boot? You might not know, so I am not pressing you for the answer. Are they possibly keeping out retailers selling knock off items that aren’t worthy of a flea market? Because, if that’s the case, bring the Hull. Anyway, I really do appreciate your videos and wish you the best. I recently saw the vid about your mom and hope you and the family are doing well. 🎉🎉🎉

[@DyingRetail]

LOL! True about the opinions and thanks for asking about my mother. Right now she’s doing ok except for walking, she has to be guided right now. In researching news articles there was a report of several shops that had their leases cancelled and the reason was they didn’t fit what Hull wanted. I tried to pull that article back up for specifics and for whatever reason I could not. The bad thing with historical pics is they’ve covered up retail spaces that they probably aren’t going to open up IMO. I wished they had kept the unique character of the mall when they were making it brighter. I miss the convo pits (LOL!). Thanks for watching. Looking forward to what you think of the future videos. I am hoping this fall I can get out and do some really cool places.

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

@@DyingRetailsending good thoughts! I haven’t been up to Danville so I cannot give personal views on the area and if maybe it’s hurting economically and socially, but with Sumter (Sumter Mall) and Orangeburg (Prince of Orange), I am in firm belief that if Hull wasn’t the owner, both malls would have been gone by now or full of sketchy retailers. There’s just not enough mall owners out there that will even want to bring these middle of nowhere malls into their portfolio because household incomes are too low. Definitely looking forward to more vids and stay safe out there traveling. Also, congrats on 1k subs. Not sure how long you have been at that accomplishment, I am trying to push to that number also.😊

[@DyingRetail]

Danville is probably hurting in some ways. There’s no other mall within an hour or so to this one. They are getting a brand new casino soon so that should inject revenue into the locality.

[@nancydarling4918]

Good video. Thanks.

[@DyingRetail]

Glad you liked it!

[@stephenbray410]

Those empty storefronts outside the mall at the end of the video looked really creepy. Would not like to be around there at night.

[@DyingRetail]

Agreed. The mall sits off to itself so at night I'm sure it's not well lit in those spots.

[@billtree52]

The mall in our area was smart, it's almost 50% occupied with office space now, headquarters to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which oversees all the prisons in our state (and everything related to that). The mall part is still open, but I've never been to it..I think these dying malls should convert to office spaces too

[@DyingRetail]

Most Communities seem to be trying to reimagine uses for the spaces. What’s the name of your mall? Thanks for watching.

[@ron5977]

Danville needs to be leveled and never be rebuilt. It is a dangerous place to visit or live in and no future. lol yes a casino will save this town LOL . Lipstick on a pig!

[@DyingRetail]

Got to be better than Petersburg 😂😂😂

[@ron5977]

Never been to Petersburg but Maybe we have a tie here!@@DyingRetail

[@DyingRetail]

Ha ha. Petersburg is the worse :)

[@Daniel_Louis]

lifestyle center? whats that, luxury? Good luck if thats what theyre trying to go for. especially in that area of the state.

[@DyingRetail]

Apparently the new casino is driving concerns about housing availability.

[@MartinWest-x7d]

I think the Danville mall looks good!! It's trying!! Also Ceasars is being built!!! Sad about malls

[@DyingRetail]

Unfortunately, this is how all Hull properties seem to operate. The city of Danville is most likely going to convert it for more housing.

[@hattree]

What a strange looking mall interior. It looks like a hotel lobby. That mall probably had no chance since Dan River Mills died.

[@DyingRetail]

Thanks for watching. From what I understand Dan River Mills (the big white building?) is being renovated into living spaces with retail on the first floor. Danville is getting a Caesars Casino and needs housing. Which is why they are looking to turn the mall into a lifestyle type concept. From what I read, they are looking to build townhomes around the mall and also use some of the mall space as living areas also. I think what really speaks is you feel like you’re in a big hallway.

[@sml0266]

Are any malls thriving these days? I don't go to the mall unless I'm looking for something very specific and then I usually only run into one store then back out. The stores don't seem to have anything worth going there for so I seriously don't know how any of them are in business.

[@DyingRetail]

In the Hampton Roads area of Virginia we have two that are just like they were in the 90’s.

[@Orefamilylawncare]

Danville as a town didn't stand a chance. The entire area is stricken with crime. Take a look around, its not a high income area. It was inevitable.

[@DyingRetail]

Sounds like things got worse when industry left.

[@raymondcaple9543]

Formerly the Piedmont Mall that opened on August 1, 1984 as Danville’s largest indoor mall with the main anchors Sears, JCPenney, and Leggett’s which became Belk along with additional stores and services along with a six screen movie theatre on the other side...

[@DyingRetail]

That’s a lot of screens for 84.

[@USA24541]

Danville is not located in southwest Virginia. Danville is in Southside Virginia.

[@DyingRetail]

Correct. My mistake cause it’s southwest of me.

[@rosalyn604]

They should use this mall as a temporary casino lol.

[@DyingRetail]

I believe the casino out there is open now.

[@1975Adamd]

Is that carpet?? Who would carpet a mall?

[@1975Adamd]

Well you just answered my question in the video 2 seconds after I commented 😂

[@DyingRetail]

LOL! Ha ha. Yep.

[@hintvision]

i was there like 2 months ago n it really is dead compared to 4 years ago

[@DyingRetail]

It's a shame. Used to be vibrant.

[@aamirgheewala6730]

Yes u right they kicked the retailers who wer in the mall fr long time n that was sad the retailers cursed this mall I was 1 of them🙏

[@DyingRetail]

I couldn't find the article again but wasn't it about six or seven they terminated the leases?

[@MikeSmith-ot8ow]

Maybe the new casino will make this better

[@DyingRetail]

@@MikeSmith-ot8ow maybe but I doubt it. City is looking to redevelope into mixed use. Maybe if the casino was on the property it would.

[@avgjoeavglife]

It's a mall-seum....

[@DyingRetail]

I’m so jealous I didn’t come up with that one. 😂😂😂

[@avgjoeavglife]

@@DyingRetail 😂😂

[@DyingRetail]

+@avgjoeavglife Thanks. Another good one :)

[@scottuncfan]

Ive seen the videos of Kingsport mall in Tennessee and it looks the same! Hull sucks

[@DyingRetail]

That’s what every video I see tells me :)

[@scottuncfan]

@@DyingRetail yeah they def do for sure

[@DyingRetail]

They must own a ton of that carpeting.